Basic Legal and Judicial Ethics
Basic Legal and Judicial Ethics
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A. PRACTICE OF LAW
1.Concept
a. Privilege
b. Profession, not business
• In re: Cunanan,94 Phil.554(1954)
• Director of Religious Affairs v. Bayot ,74 Phil .740 (1994)
• Alawi v. Alauya, 268 SCRA 628(1997)
• Ulep v. Legal Clinic (223 SCRA 378)1993
• Valencia v. Cabanting, Antonio, et al. (196 SCRA 302)
2. Qualifications
3. To the courts
a. Candor, fairness, and good faith towards the courts
b. Respect for courts and judicial officers
c. Assistance in the speedy and efficient administration of justice
d. Reliance on merits of case, not on impropriety tending to influence the courts
• De Leon v. Castelo. A.C. No.8620,12 January 2011
• Adez Realty, Inc. v. CA, 215 SCRA 301(1992)
• Que v. Revill, Jr., 607 SCRA 1(2009)
• Garcia v. Francisco,220 SCRA 512(1993)
• Re: Letter of the UP Law Faculty, A.M. No. 10-10-4-SC, 8 March 2011
• Re: Letter dated 21 February 2005 of Atty. Noel S. Sorreda, 501 SCRA 369(2006)
• In re Almacen, 31 SCRA 562 (1970)
• In re: Published Alleged Threats against Members of Court in the Plunder Law
Case Hurled by Atty. De Vera, 385 SCRA 285(2003)
• Re: Request Radio -TV Coverage of the Trial in the Sandiganbayan of the
Plunder Cases Against Former President Estrada, 360 SCRA 248(2001)
• Lantoria v. Bunyi, 209 SCRA 528(1992)
4. To the clients
a. Availability of service without discrimination
i. Services regardless of person’s status
ii. Services as counsel de oficio
iii. Valid grounds for refusal
b. Candor, Fairness, and loyalty to the clients
i. Confidentiality rule
ii. Privileged communication
iii. Conflict of interest
iv. Candid and honest advice to clients
v. Compliance with laws
vi. Concurrent practice with another profession
c. Client’s money and properties
i. Fiduciary relationship
ii. Co- mingling of funds
iii. Delivery of funds
iv. Borrowing or lending
d. Fidelity to client’s cause
i. Use of fair and honest means
ii. Client’s Fraud
iii. Procedure in handling cases
e. Competence and diligence
i. Adequate protection
ii. Negligence
iii. Collaborating counsel
iv. Duty to apprise client
f. Representation with zeal within legal bounds
g. Attorney’s fees
i. Acceptance fees
ii. Contingency fee arrangements
iii. Champertous contracts
h. Preservation of Client’s confidences
i. Prohibited disclosures and use
ii. Disclosures, when allowed
i.Withdrawal of services
j. Duties of lawyers in case of death of parties represented
• Regala v. Sandiganbayan, First Division, 262 SCRA 122 (1996)
• Gillego v. Diaz,39 SCRA 88 (1971)
• Hernandez v. Go,450 SCRA 1 (2005)
• People v. Nadera,2 February 2000
• Hadjula v. Madianda,3 July 2007
• Dhaliwal v. Dumaguing, 1 August 2012
• Manalang and Cirillo v. Angeles, 10 March 2003
• Briones v. Jimenes, 27 April 2009
• Orocio v. Anguluan, 30 January 2009
• Alcantara v. De Vera,23 November 2010
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F. NOTARIAL PRACTICE
1.Qualifications of notary public
2. Terms of office of notary public
3.Powers and limitations
4. Notarial register
5. Jurisdiction of notary public and place of notarization
6. Revocation of commission
7. Competent evidence of identity
8.Sanctions
• Maligsa v. Catanting, 272 SCRA 408(1997)
• Espinosa v. Omana ,A.C.No. 9081,12 October 2011
• Spouses Santuyo v. Hidalgo, 448 SCRA 282(2005)
II.JUDICIAL ETHICS
A. SOURCES
1. New code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary
2. Code of Judicial Conduct
B.QUALITIES
1. Independence
2.Integrity
3. Impartiality
4.Propriety
5.Equality
6.Competence and Diligence
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